Johnny Anderson, The Buckingham

(Published May 30, 2019)

By Jesse Wright

Johnny Anderson has been the doorperson at The Bunckingham since July 10, 1999.

The Buckingham, 360 E. Randolph St., is one of the original residential towers in New Eastside and it remains popular, with 305 units and, Anderson estimates, about 650 residents. He works the afternoon shift, starting at 3 p.m. and wrapping up at 11 p.m. Anderson said he likes the long day.

“I like that shift because I’m almost 70,” he said. “I’m 69, and I hate to get up early in the morning so I can sleep in late and if I have to do some errands, I can do them in the morning and still get to work.”

Anderson said he helps residents with packages and deliveries and, of course, he opens doors for people. But during those long evening hours when few people are coming or going, he enjoys singing praise songs. Anderson is a born-again Christian and, alone in the lobby, he said he sings to God when no one else can hear him.

“People come in here sometimes and they say the building feels anointed,” he said. “It’s because I’ve been singing praise songs when nobody is around. I can’t do it when people are present because I don’t know what they believe, but I do like to give praises to the Lord at all times and when it’s slow, I like to give God a praise.”

Anderson said he loves working with people, even through the trauma of life.

“Well, I am a Christian a born again Christian and so there was a time when there was a lady who lived here, and she was diagnosed with cancer,” Anderson said. “She was told she had cancer throughout her body. She was told she only had six months to live and so she came down and she wanted to talk to me about Biblical things. And I had to do it because I felt bad for her soul and I wanted her to know something about the Bible. I witnessed to her and gave her some material to read and I told her the Bible means Biblical Information Before Leaving Earth. I gave her all the information I could and she loved it, and after accepting Jesus Christ as her savior, she lived another year and a half and when she finally did die, her husband came to me and told me that when she died she was smiling and no one in the hospital could figure out why she was smiling. And when I heard that from her husband I started crying. I love to be able to help people when they’re going through something.”

To nominate your favorite doorperson, email info@neweastsidecommunity.com with the door person’s name and why you think they should be the doorperson of the month. Each winner will receive a $25 gift card to Mariano’s.